B Y: G L EN D A HE N S L E Y
A PR I L 23 , 2 01 2
CEO Reminders
CALENDARS
Student Life Calendar: For a complete listing of what's going on for students from intramurals, to concerts and
lectures, to organizations, arts and culture, and so much more....
Events Calendar: For detailed information on the arts and culture scene at WCU - plays, concerts, art exhibits,
films, and more...
Calendar Highlights and Quick-takes:
More details can be found on the events calendars above and many have full details noted below – but I
thought this may prompt some ideas for you at a glance….
 April 23rd: ------ Celebrate Excellence Leadership Awards – 6:00 pm – UC Grandroom
 April 24th: ------ Hunger Banquet – 5:30-7:00 – UC Lawn –
A WCU Poverty Project Initiative sponsored by the Honor’s College & Service Learning
th
th
 April 24 & 26 : ----Cullowhee Voter Initiative – 12:30-3:30 Shuttle – see more below
 April 27th:------- EYE on FYE Showcase & PEAKS Block Party – a First-year student Celebration – Visit
Blue Ridge conference room between 11-5 pm to see tons of first-year creativity!
HUNTER LIBRARY OPEN 24 HOURS FOR LAST TWO WEEKS OF THE SEMESTER!
Starting at noon on Sunday, April 22, Hunter Library will remain OPEN 24 HOURS continuously until Friday, May
4, when it closes at 6:00 p.m. All of us at Hunter Library look forward to helping you with your study and
research needs.
http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/13289444/hunter-library-is-open-24-hours-during-exams
EVENTS
The Celebrate Excellence Awards Banquet
April 23, 2012, beginning at 6:00 pm --- UC Grandroom
The Office of Leadership & Student Involvement invites you to join us to
congratulate our students on their leadership initiatives. The doors will
open at 6:00pm, with light hors d'oeuvres being served. We ask for attire to
be business professional. For more information please contact Karen
Farmer at 227-2610 or Amber Johnston at 227-3635
EYE on FYE: Celebrate the Creed & PEAKS Block Party
Please encourage your students to attend the festivities and please
plan to attend the showcase of their work in Blue Ridge Conference
Center from 11am – 5pm on the last day of class, June 27th. Awards
will be given to the top creative entries for best individual, small
group, organization, and residence hall. Come on out and see how
your students celebrate the community creed and enjoy the energy
and fun as the class of 2015 prepares for the passage from their first
year of college, ready to become sophomores.
After the contest showcase, all first-year students are invited to the
PEAKS Block Party – at which point the trophy for the winning
residence hall will be announced amidst the food and festival
atmosphere. Remarks and presentation by Chancellor Belcher and Dr.
Sam Miller.
See the Contest trailer here!
OPPORTUNITIES
The Cullowhee Voter Initiative ----12:30 and 3:30 on Wednesday 4/25, and Thursday 4/26
Originally inspired by the visit from Hugh Evans, this is a coordinated effort between Transportation Services &
Student Affairs to provide a CatTran shuttle to the early voting site at the Jackson County Recreation Center. The
shuttle will run from the back of the University Center to the Rec Center between 12:30 and 3:30 on Wednesday
4/25, and Thursday 4/26. Students that have registered to vote in Jackson County may participate in this early
voting opportunity. For more details about voter registration, look for information on-campus distributed by the
non-partisan, student-led Cullowhee Voter Initiative. Make your voice heard!
LC2 -- Learning Community Retreat --- an invitation event June 8th.
If you are interested to explore teaching in a learning community and would love to have a full year to plan with
your colleagues and explore best practice, as well as innovative course design ideas, this retreat is for you! It
will be hosted on June 8th as a one-day retreat at NCCAT. Prepare to be inspired by a national scholar and
workshop facilitator; prepare to continue to inspire your students with a renewed sense of purpose. Are you
eager to partner with some of WCU's best faculty and staff--- look no further.
Contact Glenda Hensley for more information and to receive your invitation to LC2.
The WaLC
As you prepare to close this semester and think about summer or fall courses you will teach, remember the
excellent resources offered by the WaLC to support your teaching and learning experience. Also remember that
by next fall, you will find them in their new home in Belk Building - another effort being made to make it easier
for your students to access these services.
A letter from Director of the WaLC, Chesney Reich
Dear Faculty,
Please take a few moments this spring to consider how the Writing and Learning Commons (WaLC) can
support your upcoming courses. Attached are our current course tutor assignments for summer and fall
2012. If you would like to recommend a tutor for your course, please visit our course tutoring page for
more information and consider recommending talented students for positions with us.
If you are teaching a writing-intensive course next fall, consider applying to our Writing Fellows
program, which places dedicated tutors exclusively with one course for an entire semester.
Writing assistants and course tutors will be available this summer, May 31 – July 2 and July 5 – August 3.
We look forward to working with you and your students.
Regards,
Chesney
The Core
Teaching the Core - Workshops galore! --- FYE Transitions courses gear up for fall 2012
Don't forget to sign up for your workshop sessions if you plan to teach a FYE transition course this fall (2012)! A
full complement of wonderful workshops and opportunities that will enable you to learn alongside your peers
will be offered with several time options from which you may choose to best meet your schedule. FYI for those
who do not teach them, FYE Transitions courses include: USI130, COUN140, LEAD LLC’s, and Honors Forum. Stay
tuned for more as we edit the new resource guide and continue to work to provide professional development
opportunities just for you! The schedule is included at the end of this newsletter for your convenience.
The Family Table
WCU Poverty Project
The Honors College will sponsor a Hunger Banquet from 5:30-7:00 on Tuesday, April
24th on the UC Lawn. The event is designed to raise awareness about hunger, and the $1
entrance fee will support famine relief in Somalia.
Update: The Honors College spring formal was Friday, April 20 from 7:00-11:00 in the
Blue Ridge Multipurpose Room. Tickets, at $5 at the door, and all proceeds will be
contributed to the American Red Cross for famine relief in Somalia. Way to go Honors
College!
Perspectives
April is Earth and Wellness Month
Did you know? You often hear folks saying that going green is all about sacrifice. From
eating less meat to conserving energy, often we can cut back on our consumption without
giving up our guilty pleasures completely. It can be a great way to rediscover and revalue
things we tend to take for granted. These simple acts help us save money too. Add to that
the mass of clutter and stuff that seems to accumulate in our lives. In honor of Earth and
Wellness Month at WCU here some simple tips to help you out.
Tip of the Month: 5 Mental Habits for Cutting Consumption
1. A Little Less: Cutting portion sizes in the restaurant, buying a regular instead of a large latte, sticking with a
smaller TV. These are all ways we can reduce our material consumption. So each time you make a purchase, ask
yourself, do you really need to super-size?
2. Maybe Tomorrow: You often hear financial advice on the radio advising folks to skip that morning latte. But
what if you look forward to it? How about having one every other day, or once a week? If you get takeout pizza
every Friday, why not try getting it every other week?
3. What’s the Alternative? What about trying a veggie option? Not only are meat free meals greener, they are
often cheaper too. And if you’re not ready to make the swap completely, try alternating between the meat and
the veggie, the organic and the regular, or whatever it is you are replacing.
4. Avoid Temptation: Nutritionists often advise weight watchers to never shop when they are hungry, and to
always make a shopping list. That way you avoid the impulse purchases, which are often the most unnecessary
and unhealthy. Shopping online saves the urge to impulse buy and you are less likely to start filling up the cart
with other unwanted items. As an added bonus, you save gas and time.
5. Put It Off: Waiting before you buy can be a great way to evaluate what you really need, especially for big
purchases. Even if you end up making the purchase a month later, your new fridge, ceiling fan, TV, etc. will be a
month younger and will last a month longer. This stuff adds up. You can apply the same principle to grocery
shopping too. Procrastinating before you go shopping is a great way to force yourself to use up what you have
before filling up the fridge.
Data source:
Care2 (2012). 5 Mental Habits for Cutting Consumption. Retrieved from http://www.care2.com/greenliving/5-mental-habits-for-cutting-consumption.html
We are here to support the sustainability efforts of faculty, staff, and students at Western Carolina University. If
you are interested in learning more about campus sustainability or getting involved please visit
http://energy.wcu.edu/. Feel free to contact us if we can assist you in any way.
Resource File
Blackboard --- reference and participate in the Transition Pathways Course site....
CFC on the Web --- help with teaching, technology, and more--- helping you do what you do better!
FYE on the Web --- many resources and network links to help you along the way …..
QEP on the Web --- discover the possibilities - find the resources you need - find your path.....
The Education Briefcase: Are you introducing the eBriefcase to your course? There is a ton
of support ready to help you and your students. For faculty and instructors – see more on
their website.
TRANSITION PATHWAYS: The Blackboard Commons: If you are planning to teach a transition course, next
fall I invite you to review this site and offer your suggestions, best practice tips and or requests for resources we
can post that will be of help to you. You will see it on your Blackboard menu under organizations. Questions:
contact Glenda Hensley at ghensley@wcu.edu
The next regular publication date is May 7, 2012 --- please let me know if you want to share updates about
programs, events, or other opportunities for teaching and learning in FYE!
Glenda Hensley, FYE Director